New entertainment place in LL
Lilongwe has a new entertainment and arts centre. It is called Rock City. Situated at Corporate Mall along Chilambula Road between Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services (DRTSS) offices and DMI. It opened its doors on December 22, 2018 with live music performances. Our Arts Editor EDITH GONDWE engaged one of the owners of Rock City Michael Jana for details:
Q
: Tell us the background of Rock City. What prompted you to open the place?
A
: The deep passion for music prompted us to open Rock City. As individuals, we have been participating in the music industry in Malawi and outside Malawi in different capacities such as performing live and in studio. Due to our other commitments, we, however, ended up being inactive. However, we have been accumulating music equipment and sharing ideas on how we should continue to contribute to the music industry in Malawi. We then decided to open Rock City to provide upcoming and mature musicians a stage to express themselves, grow, and entertain Malawians. That’s how Rock City was born.
Q
: What sets Rock City apart from other entertainment places in Lilongwe?
A
: Rock City is a unique live music venue in Lilongwe, and in fact in Malawi. It has a proper standard stage equipped with high quality music instruments and lights. This means that musicians do not need to worry about equipment or stage for their performances and the audience has high quality live music experience. We are occupying two floors and our bar and Kitchen on the lower floor that opens at 10am provides refreshing drinks and delicious food while the upper floor provides the music stage and a beautiful balcony overlooking part of Lilongwe City where people can relax. Everyone who has visited the place has said that the place is unique, beautiful, and an ideal music venue
Q
: What are some of the major projects that people should look forward to from this place?
A
: There are a lot of ideas that we are implementing and that we intend to implement. Apart from live music shows that we host on Wednesdays and Saturdays, we are building a resident band composed of young and mature musicians so the young ones can learn from the mature musicians and they all have a stage to perform. We are also negotiating with some established artists so that they can have scheduled slots where people can come see them perform. We will also have themed days based on music genre and/or classic versus contemporary music where people can come and enjoy specific types of music that they like. We are also collaborating with different music groups that promote music in Malawi to use our venue for their activities apart from occasionally hiring the place out for exclusive private or corporate functions
Q
: You have been operating for a few weeks now. What is the response from fun lovers?
A
: We opened our doors to the public on December 22 2018, so we are quite young but we have come with a bang. Everyone who has visited Rock City, from the musicians to the audience, everyone is amazed with this place. They say it provides a unique music experience. Every artist who has visited Rock City wants to perform on that stage. Every person who has visited Rock City wants to make it his or her music home.
Q
: Who are the people behind Rock City?
A
: Michael Jana, Dumbani Kuyira and Carol Kulemeka partnered to create Rock City. Louis Jana is the one managing it. It is an amazing Rock City team that is inspired by music
Q
: Any concluding remarks?
A
: Rock City is about a city that rocks! Rock City will, therefore, make Lilongwe City buzz with music!n
